Versitile Shotgun loads.

You HAD to see this one comming!
For you shotgunners out there. What are your loads for what game. I'm asking about favorite black powder SMALL game loads...awe , heck ANY shot load for ANY game including steel and bismuth loads.
How far would you comfortably shoot at game with your best loads and muzzleloader?
Please list detailed loads. i.e. buffered shot, spreader loads, loads that shoot tight, loads that spread, shot sizes, components, weapon used, powder charges, and powder type and so on.

 

[Dave K]

My favorite dove load is 3 dr. 2F Goex or Schuetzen, 1oz of 7 1/2's, of course over powder card, 1/4" thick veg.oiled lubed cushion and thin over shot card. I just change to 6's for rabbits. Sguirrels, I just use a rifle.

 

[Stumpkiller]

Bunnies:
16 ga. 1-1/8 oz #5, 75 gr (=2-3/4 dr) FFg (42" bbl musket)
12 ga. 1-1/4 oz #5, 80 gr FFg (28" bbl shotgun)

Grouse:
16 ga. 1-1/8 oz #6, 80 gr FFg
12 ga. 1-1/4 oz #6, 85 gr (= 3 dr) FFg

Skeet:
12 ga. 1-1/4oz. #7-1/2, 85 gr FFg

That d*mned woodchuck in the cabbages:
12 ga. nine .310 balls, 85 gr FFg
(Wait until he clears the row before unleasing this puppy or you'll be having cole slaw for supper)

In all loads: dry over powder wad (1/8"), 1/2" fiber cushion wad (Circle Fly) rolled in 50/50 Beeswax & Crisco mix or wiped with grease type lube, and finally, a thin over-shot card with 1/16" hole poked in it so the compressed air caused when loading won't pop it off the charge after the rod is withdrawn.

I never try beyond 30 yards with any of these loads, but my smoothies are all parallel walled cylinder bore. My 12 ga. New Englander 12 Ga. throws about a 3' pattern at that range. The .66 cal (16 ga.) fusil/musket threw a much tighter pattern, almost a modified, but unless a bunny was sittin still I never took that out beyond 30 yards, either. I only ever took one grouse with the musket for 12 years of half-hearted upland hunting (but then, I don't shoot at them unless they're flying). A Bess is just not a grouse gun (and this was a lighter 'carbine' version). Now, my 20 ga. SxS Ithaca/SKB 200-E on the other hand . . . ::

More powder, less lead
Close in, wide spread.

Less powder, more lead
Shoots far, kills dead.

The harder you push it, the wider the pattern (which is already pretty open in a musket or cylinder bored M/L).

 

[B.Habermehl]

When I had a 12 ga I worked up this load. 80 gr fg 1 1/4oz #5 shot o-p card, 3 3/16 felt wads, shot cup made from dime tube trimmed to just taller than the shot charge. o-s card .015 thick. This threw scarey turkey patterns to 30 yds in a cyl bore. Do not fold the top of the dime tube over the shot charge. You will wind up "slugging" your turkey. BJH